ExchangeDefender vs. Hacked Exim/cPanel servers | ExchangeDefender [ Skip to content ](#main) [ ![ExchangeDefender](/assets/images/xd_logo_blue.png) ](/) Email Security ![Platform Overview](/assets/images/m-xd-pro.png)### ExchangeDefender PRO Enterprise-grade email security made simple for every business. [Sign Up](/sign-up) [Live Demo](/demo) [Email Security Stops spam, malware & phishing in real time. ](/email-security) [Encryption Secure your emails, attachments & sensitive data. ](/corporate-email-encryption) [Web File Sharing Easy, safe cloud file sharing with access control. ](/web-file-server) [Live Archive Locked-in email backup & continuity during outages. ](/livearchive-backup) [Emergency Inbox Keep email flowing without interruption if your provider fails. ](/inbox) [Spearphish Train your team with phishing simulations & risk tracking. ](/spearphishing) Managed Email ### Enterprise-Grade Managed Email Reliable, secure, and fully managed email operations for modern organizations. ![ExchangeDefender](/assets/images/managed_email_menu.png) [Microsoft365/Google Email Management Expert management and security for Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace email. ](/managed-email-operations) [AI Advisory Secure, practical AI consulting & implementation for SMBs. ](/management-ai) Company ### ExchangeDefender: 29+ Years of Trust We are a cybersecurity company focused on business email protection, with 29+ years of experience keeping organizations secure, connected, and resilient. ![ExchangeDefender](/assets/images/careers_1.png) [ About Us Learn our purpose, values, and the mission behind every decision. ](/about-us) [ Blog News, product updates and email security insights. ](/blog) [ Capabilities Discover the tech and expertise that keep your email secure around the clock ](/capabilities) [ Careers Be part of a team using modern tech to solve real threats and ship great work. ](/careers) [Partners](/partners) [Docs](/docs) [Contact Us](/contact) Talk to a Human Open menu Menu ---- Email Security [Email Security](/email-security) [Encryption](/corporate-email-encryption) [Web File Sharing](/web-file-server) [Live Archive](/livearchive-backup) [Inbox](/inbox) [Spearphish](/spearphishing) Managed Email [Microsoft365/Google Email Management](/managed-email-operations) [AI Advisory](/management-ai) Company [About Us](/about-us) [Blog](/blog) [Capabilities](/capabilities) [Careers](/careers) [Partners](/partners) [Docs](/docs) [Contact Us](/contact) Talk to a Human November 4, 2019 · [ExchangeDefender](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=exchangedefender) ExchangeDefender vs. Hacked Exim/cPanel servers =============================================== ![](https://storage.services.exchangedefender.network/exchangedefender-blog/blog/2019/11/AdobeStock_159912250-1024x576.jpeg) ExchangeDefender has been seeing an elevated amount of malware originating from hacked Exim mail servers. While we tend to score those messages higher by default to keep our clients protected, one of our clients discovered a scenario in which a user could get a dangerous payload through our scanners (requires multiple manual steps and a sophisticated recipient with imaging software willing to go through multiple hoops). Which this is exceptionally unlikely, we wanted to address a few of the topics anyhow. #### 1. CIOs, MSPs, and Domain Administrators can manage attachment policies If you go to [**https://admin.exchangedefender.com**](https://admin.exchangedefender.com/) and login as the Domain Administrator, you can manage attachment policies under **Configuration** > **Attachments**. You can find more about ExchangeDefender configuration at [**https://www.exchangedefender.com/docs/domain#configuration**](https://www.exchangedefender.com/docs/domain#configuration) #### 2. We do not deep-scan file system images (.iso/.img) As a policy we do not deep scan .iso or .img file system images. The files themselves are scanned for both malware, viruses, and other parameters (for example, if someone renames a .exe to .img, or embeds malware in one we will still filter it out) but we will not mount file system images and go through each file inside. This is not a popular attack vector (requires multiple actions by the user and most will require Administrative access and specialized software) but it is technically possible. #### 3. You should implicitly distrust anyone on hacked Exim servers ExchangeDefender cannot globally block Exim servers (because there is always going to be that one "business case scenario!!! we cannot block our $2 cPanel VPS!") but if you can possibly block them - by all means do. While this is generally not necessary (ExchangeDefender maintains a proprietary list of pwn3d Exim servers and routinely moves them to SPAM or SureSPAM), it's a good idea not to accept any mail from these servers at all. #### 4. You should implicitly junk SPF failures Same as #3, it's a really good idea if you have the luxury of not dealing with people that shouldn't be running an email server. ExchangeDefender tracks SPF failures and notes them in the headers that can be used to aggressively filter out messages sent out from invalid ranges. Just look for a "*Received-SPF: softfail*" in the message headers. > Received-SPF: softfail ([inboundXX.exchangedefender.com](http://inboundxx.exchangedefender.com/): domain of transitioning does not designate 67.82.55.11 as permitted sender) What this means is that the organization has designated an IP range that legitimately relays messages, and this message came from an IP address outside of that range. 99.99999% of the time it's a spammer. 0.00001% of the time it's just a poorly configured server. It's your choice to assess the risk and implement this if possible and we recommend it. Finally, if you are actively monitoring security and communicating with your clients, we do manage a NOC site that logs major issues at [**https://www.anythingdown.com**](https://www.anythingdown.com/). If you're one of our MSP or enterprise clients, you also have a branded version of this software free of charge at [**https://www.xdnoc.com**](https://www.xdnoc.com/) that you can attach your domain name to and offer these alerts to your clients without copying and pasting around.We hope this helps and we appreciate your trust in keeping you safe online. For more information, please see our [**ExchangeDefender Guide for Domain**](https://www.exchangedefender.com/docs/domain#configuration). [ Previous post ExchangeDefender UI is a huge hit! October 30, 2019 ](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2019/10/exchangedefender-ui-is-a-huge-hit) [ Next post How to Protect Yourself from Domain Spoofing and Phishing with ExchangeDefender November 8, 2019 ](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2019/11/how-to-protect-yourself-from-domain-spoofing-and-phishing-with-exchangedefender) Related Posts ------------- [ ![](https://storage.services.exchangedefender.network/exchangedefender-blog/blog/2026/04/xd10.png) 2 Apr ](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2026/04/announcing-exchangedefender-10)### [Announcing ExchangeDefender 10](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2026/04/announcing-exchangedefender-10) [Read more: Announcing ExchangeDefender 10](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2026/04/announcing-exchangedefender-10) [ ![](https://storage.services.exchangedefender.network/exchangedefender-blog/blog/2025/10/what-is-a-watering-hole.png) 22 Oct ](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/10/what-is-a-watering-hole-attack-and-why-you-should-care)### [What Is a Watering Hole Attack (and Why You Should Care)](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/10/what-is-a-watering-hole-attack-and-why-you-should-care) [Read more: What Is a Watering Hole Attack (and Why You Should Care)](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/10/what-is-a-watering-hole-attack-and-why-you-should-care) [ ![](https://storage.services.exchangedefender.network/exchangedefender-blog/blog/2025/09/Top-7-IT-Solutions-Every-Small-Business-Needs-in-2025.jpg) 30 Sep ](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/09/top-7-it-solutions-every-small-business-needs-in-2025)### [Top 7 IT Solutions Every Small Business Needs in 2025](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/09/top-7-it-solutions-every-small-business-needs-in-2025) [Read more: Top 7 IT Solutions Every Small Business Needs in 2025](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/09/top-7-it-solutions-every-small-business-needs-in-2025) Search the blog Search Recent Posts ------------ - [ExchangeDefender New UI is Live](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2026/05/exchangedefender-new-ui-is-live) - [Announcing ExchangeDefender 10](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2026/04/announcing-exchangedefender-10) - [Merry Christmas](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/12/merry-christmas) - [Why IoT Devices Are a Hidden Security Risk for Your Business](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/11/why-iot-devices-are-a-hidden-security-risk-for-your-business) - [Top 5 IT Problems Small Businesses Face in 2025 — and How to Fix Them](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog/2025/10/top-5-it-problems-small-businesses-face-in-2025-and-how-to-fix-them) Categories ---------- - [Archiving](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=archiving) (21) - [Business Continuity](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=business-continuity) (13) - [Compliance](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=compliance) (8) - [ExchangeDefender](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=exchangedefender) (349) - [General](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=uncategorized) (590) - [Hosted Services](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=hosted-services) (86) - [Industry News](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=industrynews) (29) - [Marketing](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=marketing) (18) - [Phishing](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=phishing) (5) - [PRO TIPS](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=pro-tips) (44) - [Product Features](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=product-features) (54) - [Security](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=security) (65) - [Shockey Monkey](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=shockey-monkey) (22) - [Spamfilter](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=spamfilter) (5) - [Support](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=support) (45) - [Webinars](https://www-preview.exchangedefender.com/blog?category=webinars) (44) Solutions --------- - [Stop Spam & Malware](/email-security) - [Hands-Free Email Backup](/livearchive-backup) - [Instant Email Recovery](/inbox) - [Send Private Emails](/corporate-email-encryption) - [Train Against Email Threats](/spearphishing) - [Share Files Safely](/web-file-server) Company ------- - [About ExchangeDefender](/about-us) - [Compliance & Legal](/our-compliance) - [Become a Partner](/partners) - [Support Portal Login](https://support.exchangedefender.com/) - [Microsoft 365 Email Management](/managed-email-operations) - [AI Advisory Service](/management-ai) ![ExchangeDefender](/assets/images/dark-xd-logo.png)USA: +1 (407) 465-6800 United Kingdom: 0800 8620149 Australia: +61 0390010641 Fax: +1 (954) 839-8737 [ ](https://www.facebook.com/ExchangeDefender) [ ](https://www.twitter.com/XD_Defender) [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/company/exchangdefender) [ ](/blog) © 2026 Own Web Now Corp - All rights reserved </> with ❤️ in Orlando [SLA](/sla) [TOS](/tos) [PRIVACY](/privacy-end-users) [AUP](/aup) We're Here to Help 👋 -------------------- Tired of AI 🤖 and hold music? 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